Collaboration boosts distance learning in Africa

Left to Right: Steve Hill (Director of External Engagement at OU), RoyDouglas (CEO of ADvTECH), Viren Patel (Head of New Partnership Developmentat OU and Dr Felicity Coughlan (Director of IIE)

By TINTSWALO BALOYIJOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s largest private higher education provider has partnered with its counterpart in the United Kingdom to improve the way students access distance learning education opportunities in South Africa and the rest of the continent.
The partnership announced in Johannesburg on Wednesday is between Independent Institute of Education (IIE) and the Open University (OU) respectively.
The two organisations today signed a Memorandum of Strategic Intent at the Sandton Head Office of Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed ADvTECH Ltd, the holding company of IIE.
Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of IIE, which already is the only South African institution accredited by the British Accreditation Council, says the partnership will spark a substantial increase in globally relevant options for IIE students and alumni.
“To be able to work with a global leader in distance education to develop the competency of our staff, the presentation of our curriculum and the chances of success of our students is an opportunity we are excited to embrace,” Coughlan says.
The agreement between the institutions provides for joint exploration of possibilities for ongoing collaboration and joint development of opportunities to participate in the growth of the higher education sector in Africa.
Steve Hill, Director of External Engagement at OU, says the strategic agreement is set to have a major impact on higher education quality,options and access in South Africa and beyond.
The IIE already offers more than 70 qualifications, from short courses to post-graduate degrees, through its brands including Vega, Varsity College, Rosebank College and The Design School SA.
“The combination of world-leading learning innovation from the OU and the long-standing local expertise of IIE will be of great benefit to students,” Hill says.
OU has taught more than 1,8 million students for almost half a century.
Its current student body numbers over 170 000 with 15 000 of them outside the UK.
Significantly, more than 70 percent of these students are in full or part-time employment, while four out of five Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 companies have sponsored staff to further their education through the institution.
– CAJ News